2025 Acura MDX trenches touchpad; embraces touchscreens, Google, Bang and Olufsen

The 2025 Acura MDX sees a number of updates and upgrades, especially inside, where a new infotainment system could be a game-changer for Acura’s flagship SUV and, possibly, the entire brand.

Now, at first glance, adding a 12.3-inch touchscreen to a new luxury car shouldn’t be that big of a deal, even with over-the-air updates and Google’s built-in technology. It might even raise an eye when you realize that the screen and interface are basically the same as you’d find in Honda’s top-of-the-line Accord. The reason it matters is because of what it changes. Acura’s True Touchpad interface has fallen out of favor since it debuted on the current-generation RDX and later spread across Acura’s lineup to everything not named Integra. This interface, which paired the dash-top screen with a unique touchpad on the center console (pressing the touchpad would select an icon in the corresponding spot on the screen) wasn’t exactly a favorite. The whole system felt like Acura was contradicting itself, as if the touchscreen or even the knob and display setup, were too basic. Well, they are basic now. Even if the new touchscreen is shared with the Accord, so what? Smartly organized, good looking and built-in Google means there is an improved version of Google Maps as well as various Apps from the Google Play store. And yes, Apple CarPlay is still there.

Of course the True Touchpad is gone, real estate was opened up on the center console. There’s a new, wider, shallower barrel that might be useful for something but looks a little odd. It’s where the volume element used to be – that’s moved west to where the touchpad used to be and so it’s closer to your hand. The Touchpad palm rest that used to float above the wireless phone charger is gone, too, making it easier to place and remove your phone.

Another big change for the 2025 is the addition of Bang & Olufsen audio systems in place of the new Panasonic/ELS offerings that have been an Acura staple for two decades. While the ZDX is the first Acura to get a Bang & Olufsen system (the 2025 MDX will arrive at dealerships after Acura’s electric love child with GM), the MDX gets a more powerful version. Not just the Acura Bang & Olufsen version, but Acura’s most powerful sound system ever. Except for the top-of-the-line S model with the Advance Package, it has 31 speakers (including 12 in the ceiling only), 24 power channels, two sound amplifiers and an 8.8-inch subwoofer. A 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen system is included on the MDX Technology Package, Advance Package and A-Spec models. Both feature Bang & Olufsen’s 3D Sound Control and Beosonic’s one-touch volume control which is a huge improvement over the standard Bass, Mid and Treble sliders.

Elsewhere in tech land, the AcuraWatch driver assistance unit gets a hardware upgrade, resulting in better cruise control functionality, blind spot warning and a smarter forward collision mitigation system. The Type S with the Advance Package gets more advanced features, including better sensors, which improve the existing different ADAS systems and enable the addition of automatic lane changes to the cruise control (you have to hit the turn signal), intervention automatic in the blind spot warning system and forward traffic warning.

There are no mechanical upgrades, unless you consider some of the extra sound deadening and laminated rear glass on most trim levels to be a technical upgrade. Appearance differences are also minimal, with revised lower hoods for the regular and S-Type models, new grille inserts for both, and revised grille surrounds that do away with the appearance of the standard MDX’s chrome lip. The taillights are now darker, too, and there are new wheel designs all around. I go into them more in the video above.

It may not seem like much, and possibly a change that shouldn’t have been needed in the first place, but the new touchscreen interface removes a major hurdle of signing up for several years in the new MDX. One can also conclude that the next Acuras will be similarly updated, so stay tuned for future RDX and TLX updates.